The Ministry of Health will tomorrow kick off a mass Measles Rubella vaccination campaign to protect 1.2 million children in the country.
However, this campaign is overshadowed by the disease outbreak in some seven counties including, the capital, Nairobi.
Other counties are Turkana, Marsabit, Garissa, Mandera and West Pokot.
The ministry indicated on its Twitter account on Monday that following the reported and confirmed measles and rubella outbreaks in some counties across the country it will conduct Measles Rubella vaccination campaign in seven counties targeting all children aged 9 to 59 months.
It said the outbreak is caused by low measles immunization coverage.
“The Ministry is launching a measles rubella vaccination drive on Thursday. The Ministry will share more information then,” the communications personnel at the ministry replied.
On November 22, the ministry alerted the County Executive Committee Members (CECM) for health in the seven counties in a letter about the outbreak, calling for immediate response.
Measles outbreak
“Kenya is experiencing a measles outbreak in six counties- Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit, Nairobi, Turkana, Wajir,” said the Ministry in a letter dated November 22 and signed by outgoing PS, Susan Mochache.
The letter was sent through the Council of Governors (CoG), Chief Executive Officer’s office.
These counties, Mochache wrote, have less than 90 percent coverage of the routine first and second dose measles vaccine coverage, with reduced access due to highly mobile nomadic populations and influx of refugees.
She also attributed the outbreak to the ongoing drought in those areas, which had exposed many children to malnutrition.
“To respond to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health with support from Gavi and other partners plans to conduct a Measles Rubella Vaccination campaign in seven counties,” she indicated.
Outreach posts
The vaccination, she pointed out, will be delivered through fixed posts and temporary-fixed outreach posts.
In April, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that an increase in measles cases in January and February is a worrying sign of a heightened risk for the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and could trigger larger outbreaks, particularly of measles affecting millions of children in 2022.
“Pandemic-related disruptions, increasing inequalities in access to vaccines, and the diversion of resources from routine immunization are leaving too many children without protection against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases,” the two UN bodies noted.
They also attributed this situation to relaxation of social distancing practices and other preventive measures for Covid-19 by communities, which were implemented during the height of the pandemic.
Other pointers included displacements of large populations due to conflicts and crises including in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Somalia and Afghanistan, disruptions in routine immunization and Covid-19 vaccination services, lack of clean water and sanitation, and overcrowding increase the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
In October, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) reported a similar outbreak in six counties; Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, Nairobi, Turkana and Mandera.
A total of two hundred and twelve (212) cases with sixty four (64) confirmed and two (2) deaths were reported.
Measles is a highly contagious disease which usually results in a high fever and rash, which can cause complications and lead to death. The Measles Rubella vaccine is safe and effective and provides long term immunity against both diseases.
The first dose of the Measles Rubella vaccine is given to infants aged 9 months and the second dose at 18 months. Children should receive all two doses of Measles Rubella vaccine in order to be fully protected.
